Device for adjusting the pitch of sulky-bodies



(No Model.)

J. HESSONG. DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE PITCH 0F SULKY BODIES. No. 475,218. Patented May 17 18-92.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES HESSONG, OF OHILLIOOTHE, OHIO.

DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE PITCH OF SULKY-BODIES.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 4=75,218, dated May 17, 1892. Application filed August 10, 1891. Serial No. 402.189. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES HESSONG, a resident of Chillicothe, in the'county of Ross and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Adjusting the Pitch of Sulky-Bodies; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to means for adj usting the bodies of sulkies and like vehicles; and it has for its object to furnish a simple, efficient, and readily-operated device for this purpose which will provide for adj usting the plane of such a body to suit the height of different animals or for other purposes without requiring or involving any change in the tension or in the operation of the springs of the vehicle; and the invention consists in the construction hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of a vehicle with the improvement applied thereto; and Fig. 2 is a similar view on a larger scale, the main part of the vehicle being broken away.

As usually constructed the front of the body of a sulky or of similar vehicle is loosely connected to a cross bar supported from the shafts, the connection being such as to allow limited movements of the body in a vertical plane and any desired extent of angular movement in said plane.

To adj ustthe plane of the body of a vehicle to adapt it for comfortable use with different animals which vary greatly in height, and to accomplish this result without materially affecting the operation of the springs or other parts of the vehicle I provide a hinge or equiv lent connection between the body and the springs.

Numeral 1 indicates a sulky-body, and 2 the end of a cross-bar by which the springs 3 are stayed. I

4 and 5 are bars or plates joined by a hinge 5'. At their ends opposite said hinge they are connected by a screw-bolt 6, which may pass through the bottom of the body and through the metal plates. The plates are fastened to the body 1 and to the cross-bar 2, respectively,

by screw-bolts 8 or by any suitable means. By means of the several nuts 7 the angular distance of the plates from each other can be readily adjusted, and as the body is rigidly secured to plate 4 its plane will be altered accordingly, and by these means it can be tilted and held in any desiredposition with respect to the shafts. If an animal of comparatively large stature is used, the nuts 7 will be so manipulated as to increase the angle between on each side of the sulky are secured upon the bar 2, that connects the springs just inside of said springs; but the particular manner of connecting the device to the vehicle-body and to the springs is not of the gist of the invention and can be varied by mechanical skill. The lower plate 5 is in the present instance provided with an offset to afford room for the nuts 7 between the plates without normally separating the latter too great a distance. The bolts 6 will have no screw-thread connection with either the body or the plates, and the bolt-holes in these parts will be made of sufficient size to prevent binding of the parts in operation.

I am aware that devices for adjusting. vehicle-bodies, including one or more hinged bars or plates, are not new, and I do not broadly claim constructions of this character.

It is characteristic of my improvement that it consists of two similar plates of substantially the same dimensions interposed directly between the body and spring in practically the same vertical plane with the spring and rigidly secured one to the body and the other to the spring, in the manner set forth, and made adjustable by means of nuts on a bolt passing through suitable holes in both plates. The

particular construction is simple, strong, compact, and easy of application and manipulation.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is- 1. A device for regulating the position of a tilting vehicle-body, consisting of two plates of substantially the same length hinged to each other at one end, the upper plate being rigidly fastened directly to the body and the lower plate being in like manner fastened to springs directly under the body, and a bolt passing through both plates, a nut on said bolt to secure the upper plate to the body, and two adj usting-nuts, one on each side of the lower plate, said plate being provided with an en; larged bolt-hole, all substantially as set forth. 2. A device for regulating the position of a tilting vehicle body, consisting of plates hinged to each other at one end, the upper plate being secured directly to the vehicle by a screw-bolt passingthrough an opening in each plate, the lower one having a diameter greater than that of the bolt and provided with a nut to fasten the upper plate to the body, and other nuts, one on each side of the lower plate, to hold it in any desired position,

and the lower plate connected to the cross- J AMES I-IESSONG.

Witnesses:

WM. M. WOODROW, WILLY G. HYDE. 

